As a comment, in general, I'd say after a Wrangler, you're about ready for the other extreme.  

Do your best to take a shot at what you want by rating your wants percent off road and percent on pavement.  Forget the BOV has to climb a rock mountain.  The odds of that actually happening is almost NI, especially in TX.  You've probably spent quite a bit of time trying to find places to try out that Wrangler so you should know that is the case.  Preparing for the most likely first and least likely last, a good BOV needs to get you where you need to go with as much cargo and comfort as possible with the highest probability of needing offroad capability slick surfaces, sand, mud, and the occasional berm or dirt road/trail.  If you can meet that critera with a vehicle, and most will, then its really wisest to buy a vehicle that best suits the needs that you have most.  

I have three 4x4s, small truck, large truck, and SUV.  None of them are extreme offroaders, yet I probably spend more time offroad than most people.  I'm not out there trying to get stuck but going from point A to point B often where a car would find it pretty darn difficult.  

The one I drive most is my SUV and I'm on my second Grand Cherokee.  They fit my bill.  They're larger, a downright pleasure on the highway or in city, and with about as advanced a 4x4 system that can be had.  My latest is a 2005 with the new Quadra Trac II.  Its amazing system that not only can adjust wheel torque from a normally 60/40 AWD that puts torque in rougher conditions to one wheel to all four with any combination in between with as little as a fraction of a wheel turn, but its anti-lock brake system is simply the fastest to kick in I have driven.  A lot of my criteria is long trips and being able to do 8 hours in a vehicle in all kinds of weather arriving rested is a big deal to me.  Still it does quite well on the trails here in the Smoky Mountians and exceptional in slick road conditions.  The damn thing is idiot proof but then there's something to be said about idiot proof.  

Anyway, though I love my GC and like I said I'm on my second now, your needs may be different.  I rank the GC with no modifications about a good 70/30 road to dirt as far as ride vs offroad capability.  You may want something a little more off road capable but you won't find something more road capable that's a 4x4 anyway.  I really like the big SUVs but then they don't really ride any better than my big truck and the truck can carry much more.  I guess that shouldn't surprise me since they basically are a big truck. I rank both about an 80/20.   The medium SUVs are somewhere between your Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee.  They have a lot more road comfort than the Wrangler but way short of the Grand Cherokee.  Naturally their higher body stance and shorter wheel base makes them a tad more off road/rock friendly.  I rate most of them, about a 60/40.  If you follow this then it shouldn't surprise you I rank the Wrangler a 40/60.  

I honestly think if a fella nails that percentage thing down as to what they want and test drive a few, whatever they choose they will like much better than what works best for me or some other guy.  We're all a little different.

Tj

That's true too and I really like the German SUVs particularly the Porche which has amazing push button drive options including automatically raising the ground clearance.  The problem i have with them is two fold.  

First I rate most of them 90/10 road to off road.  They do exceptionally well on road as you posted, especially in slick road conditions, but not that strong offroad.  Other than as an organized sport, they don't really offroad in Europe.  Break something here in the US and probably won't be a trip down to Autozone and pick up the part.  Nor is scavenging from another vehicle going to be likely.  BTW, Just so everyone knows the drive train other than the motor on the 2005 up Jeep GC is German, Benz.  That includes the transmission and anti-lock brake system.  Still the GC is sold in such numbers it isn't quite as much of parts issue.  

The other is that cost barrier.  A replacement plastic coolant reservoir for a BMW is like $200.  Where American made cars still have some semblance of fix it yourself or ohters fix it, German cars are almost all 100% designed to only be fixed by their authorized dealers.  That can be quite problematic.  It doesn't mean you can't do it, only it will be more difficult.  Though expensive, fairly new (less than 60,000 miles), I consider them an actual very good value for your money.  Its over that 60,000 miles that you really start seeing that value decline.  In the low cost used category, they're almost non-existent.  For the same money you can buy a GC or Jap SUV with under 60,000 miles, you'll be lucky to find a German one with less than double that mileage and more likely triple.  

As for crashes, well I'm pretty convince there isn't an engineer born who can change the laws of physics and no matter how many crumple vehicles and air bags a vehicle has a larger heavier vehicle will always win out.  What one really has to do here is compare an apple to an apple.  

What I do like about the German SUVs is the same thing I like most about the new GC.  Its a low center of gravity combined with a stiff suspension.  In fast maneuvers, this greatly reduces the tilt to flip potential.   Like you posted, the potential for us taking the slow rugged trail to the Smoky Joe Refugee Camp is very unlikely while trying to get away from Road Rage Rob, very likely.

Tj

BTW, Just so I'm consistent.  I rank the subcompact SUVs about a 90/10, which is a shame really.  With more advanced suspensions and 4x4 systems, due to their wheel base, they could be much much more.  A 60/40 or 70/30 subcompact would be very attractive.  

I had hopes for the new Jeep subcompact but they fell short.  Though the suspension fits the bill, the 4x4 system is quite elementary a classic front to back with differentials.  It was very disappointing.  Still, purely from a performance standpoint, it edges out the CRV or RAV especially in offroad, much closer to a 80/20.

Tj

I actually had a chance to buy one when I bought my 05.  Almost sorry I didn't.  My 05 was two years newer with less mileage, both comparably optioned, and about the same price.  What swayed me was the 05 had the maxed out new 4x4 system.  That I most certainly don't regret for the majority of my driving, pavement, but the Overland sure would have been nice offroad, and no slouch on road either.

Well the new body styling influenced me too.  I tend to keep vehicles until they drop or a tree drops on them and the new style won't look as dated as fast.

Tj